Review of Big Fish (2003) by Abhishek B — 05 Apr 2012

This film took Burton away from his usual genre. Having read the book, I always pictured Jack Nicholson as the older Edward Bloom and thought this was more of a Spielberg project. After seeing this film, I was blown away. Completely different from everything Burton has directed. When reading the book and seeing the film I always could relate to Edward Bloom both young and old. One of the best lines in the film is when the older Edward Bloom, brilliantly played by Albert Finney, says.

"You see, most men, they'll tell you a story straight through. It won't be complicated, but it won't be interesting, either.".

I loved seeing the beautiful Jessica Lange on film again, and her hearbreaking scenes when she climbs into the bathtub always make me tear up. The general idea of a son trying to figure out who his father really is, is always complex. Edward Bloom was such a larger than life character, that his son became such a realist and cynic that he was convinced every story his father told was nothing more than a tall tale or even a lie. But eventually you find out that behind all the tall tales, the larger than life stories, there is some truth it, even if it's a tiny bit. This to me felt like a modern take on mythology and legend. They all start somewhere.

I was delighted to see Danny DeVito reunited with Burton. And it was amazing on Burton's part casting Marion Cotillard as Josephine. She shined in this film and later went on to win an Oscar. Burton has a knack for discovering new talent, and seeing them go on to bigger and better things.

If you really want to sit down and enjoy a wonderful story about a son trying to sort the fact and fiction from his father's life, this is the ideal film for you.